It may come as a shock to you to find that members of Blackfive (and the armed services) drink, and have an appreciation of the distiller's art. (cough, cough). I recently found myself at Heaven (Hill that is) and wanted to share a bit about the Bourbon Heritage Center and Heaven Hill Distilleries. I plan on returning to Bardstown, Kentucky, and to the Center and recommend that you visit as well. In fact, if you are active duty, bring your ID and you will get a discount. What that is I'm not saying, but you will want to take advantage of it.

A few of Heaven Hill's offerings

While Evan Williams is perhaps this family-owned and operated company's best known brand, my bourbon of choice to have on hand for regular use is Elijah Craig 12-year-old. This product drew me to visit when I had the chance, as I wanted to know more about the product and my favorite preacher.

Elijah was indeed a preacher, a distiller, and more. In fact, he is credited by many sources with the discovery of something that made the modern bourbon industry: barrel charring. The story of how that came to be is a good one, makes me like him more, and is something I recommend you learn first hand.

I'm not going to show him since he really didn't know what I was up to, but my tour guide was amazing. He has been in the business for years, and that depth of knowledge showed. That he was also an Elijah Craig drinker only made it better, as he shared knowledge of the product and it's history with me. Another thing that impressed me with him was that he asked about me and my knowledge of the art at the start, and then tailored my tour through the center accordingly. Even better, he tailored my tasting as well, and we had a great time discussing the attributes of the different Elijah Craig offerings.

Note the blue-label, and note that one product you might expect to see is not there

If you are a bourbon drinker, and like good bourbon, check your local provider for Elijah Craig 18-year-old. If they have it, buy it. A recent visitor to the center liked it so much, he bought the entire stock they had. It will be a while before there is more, so grab it while you can.

Two quick notes and one confession to share:

First, I was very impressed with the staff at the Center. In addition to my tour guide, two other staff members went out of their way to make sure I had the information I needed and enjoyed myself. They went above and beyond, and it was appreciated.

Two, while I won't swear to the special tour, the Center itself is very family friendly. While you have to be of legal age to do tastings and make liquid purchases at the gift shop, children can enjoy the displays, movie, and other information at the Center.

The confession is that my photo of the copper-roofed Center was not acceptable to share. Instead, I suggest you view it on their site.

I very much enjoyed my visit, and do plan on going back Bardstown is a very nice and interesting place, with a variety of lodging (B&B to chain hotels), restaurants (including a dinner train), and more. If you are passing by, or looking for a good trip to make, go visit the Bourbon Heritage Center. If you are active duty, be sure to take your ID.

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A Visit With Elijah

A welcome sign of things to come

It may come as a shock to you to find that members of Blackfive (and the armed services) drink, and have an appreciation of the distiller's art. (cough, cough). I recently found myself at Heaven (Hill that is) and wanted to share a bit about the Bourbon Heritage Center and Heaven Hill Distilleries. I plan on returning to Bardstown, Kentucky, and to the Center and recommend that you visit as well. In fact, if you are active duty, bring your ID and you will get a discount. What that is I'm not saying, but you will want to take advantage of it.

A few of Heaven Hill's offerings

While Evan Williams is perhaps this family-owned and operated company's best known brand, my bourbon of choice to have on hand for regular use is Elijah Craig 12-year-old. This product drew me to visit when I had the chance, as I wanted to know more about the product and my favorite preacher.

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The Authors

Former Paratrooper and Army Officer, "Blackfive" started this blog upon learning of the valorous sacrifice of a friend that was not reported by the journalist whose life he saved. Email: blackfive AT gmail DOT com

Instapinch
Bill Paisley, otherwise known as Pinch, is a 22 year (ongoing) active and
reserve naval aviator. He blogs over at www.instapinch.com on a veritable
cornucopia of various and sundry items and will bring a tactical naval
aviator's perspective to Blackfive. Readers be warned: any comments of or
about the F-14 Tomcat will be reverential and spoken in low, hushed tones.
Email: wpaisley AT comcast DOT net

Mr. Wolf has over 26 years in the Army, Army NG, and USAR. He’s Airborne with 5 years as an NCO, before becoming an officer. Mr. Wolf has had 4 company commands. Signal Corp is his basic branch, and Public Affairs is his functional area. He recently served 22 straight months in Kuwait and Iraq, in Intel, PA, and senior staff of MNF-I. Mr. Wolf is now an IT executive. He is currently working on a book on media and the Iraq war. Functional gearhead.

In Iraq, he received the moniker of Mr. Wolf after the Harvey Kietel character in Pulp Fiction, when "challenges" arose, they called on Mr. Wolf...
Email: TheDOTMrDOTWolfAT gmail DOT com

Deebow is a Staff Sergeant and a Military Police Squad Leader in the Army National Guard. In a previous life, he served in the US Navy. He has over 19 years of experience in both the Maritime and Land Warfare; including deployments to Southwest Asia, Thailand, the South Pacific, South America and Egypt. He has served as a Military Police Team Leader and Protective Services Team Leader and he has served on assignments with the US State Department, US Air Force Security Police, US Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. He recently spent time in Afghanistan working with, training and fighting alongside Afghan Soldiers and is now focused on putting his 4 year Political Science degree to work by writing about foreign policy, military security policy and politics.

McQ has 28 years active and reserve service. Retired. Infantry officer. Airborne and Ranger. Consider my 3 years with the 82nd as the most fun I ever had with my clothes on. Interests include military issues and policy and veteran's affairs.
Email: mcq51 -at - bellsouth -dot- net

Tantor is a former USAF navigator/weapon system officer (WSO) in F-4E Phantoms who served in the US, Asia, and Europe. He is now a curmudgeonly computer geek in Washington, DC, picking the taxpayers pocket. His avocations are current events, aviation, history, and conservative politics.

Twenty-three years of Active and Reserve service in the US Army in SF (18B), Infantry and SOF Signal jobs with operational deployments to Bosnia and Africa. Since retiring he's worked as Senior Defense Analyst on SOF and Irregular Warfare projects and currently ensconced in the emerging world of Cyberspace.

The Authors Emeritus

Major Pain --
A Marine who began his blog in Iraq and reflects back on what he learned there and in Afghanistan. To the point opinions, ideas and thoughts on military, political and the media from One Marine’s View.Email: onemarinesview AT yahoo DOT com

Uber Pig was an Infantryman from late 1991 until early 1996, serving with Second Ranger Battalion, I Corps, and then 25th Infantry Division. At the time, the Army discriminated against enlisted soldiers who wanted use the "Green to Gold" program to become officers, so he left to attend Stanford University. There, he became expert in detecting, avoiding, and surviving L-shaped ambushes, before dropping out to be as entrepreneurial as he could be. He is now the founder of a software startup serving the insurance and construction industries, and splits time between Lake Tahoe, Boonville, and San Francisco, CA.

Uber Pig writes for Blackfive a) because he's the proud brother of an enlisted Civil Affairs Reservist who currently serves in Iraq, b) because he looks unkindly on people who make it harder for the military in general, and for his brother in particular, to succeed at their missions and come home in victory, and c) because the Blackfive readers and commenters help keep him sane.

COB6 spent 24 years in the active duty Army that included 5 combat tours with service in the 1st Ranger Battalion and 1st Special Forces Group . COB6 was enlisted (E-7) and took the OCS route to a commission. COB6 retired a few years back as a field grade Infantry officer.
Currently COB6 has a son in the 82nd Airborne that just returned from his third tour and has a newly commissioned daughter in the 4th Infantry Division.